R.I. candidates for lieutenant governor question each other at Providence forum

PROVIDENCE — When given a chance to ask one of their rivals a question, some of the candidates for lieutenant governor went easy, some probed a little, and one asked and then re-asked the most pointed...

PROVIDENCE — When given a chance to ask one of their rivals a question, some of the candidates for lieutenant governor went easy, some probed a little, and one asked and then re-asked the most pointed question of their Wednesday morning forum.

The easy questions came from Democrats Daniel McKee and Frank Ferri, with McKee asking Ferri if he ever bowled a perfect game at his bowling alley and Ferri asking all the candidates if they believe the state needs change.

The more probing questions came from Democrat A. Ralph Mollis, who asked Ferri why he thinks he would be qualified to serve as governor, should the governor be unable to serve, and Republican Catherine Taylor, who asked Mollis how he would use the Long-Term Care Coordinating Council, which is chaired by the lieutenant governor, to address issues associated with aging.

The most pointed question came from Republican Kara Young, who asked Taylor if she is anti-abortion or pro-choice.

Taylor said she sees the issue as one that must be decided by the individual.

“As a woman, as a mother of four children, as someone who strives to be a faithful Catholic, and as a small-government Republican, I believe there’s a place where government should never be,” she said.

The back-and-forth came during a 75-minute forum at the Laurelmead retirement home and drew about 40 residents, who watched as the moderator, Laurelmead executive director Craig Evans, elicited a variety of views about the role the lieutenant governor’s office can play.

Ferri, a state representative from Warwick, said he, as a small-business owner, understands the needs of small businesses and wants to bring that perspective to the office. He also said he wants to protect the changes that have come with the Affordable Care Act, providing greater access to health insurance.

McKee, a six-term mayor in Cumberland, said he brings a mix of small business and government experience, and believes the office should be used to support business-friendly policies. When the economy is working, many issues will take care of themselves, he said.

Mollis, a former North Providence mayor who is now serving his second term as secretary of state, said he has worked with his staff to raise the secretary of state’s office “to another level,” adopting business and voter-friendly policies, and wants to take a similar approach to the lieutenant governor’s office.

Taylor, who resigned recently as head of the state Division of Elderly Affairs to run for lieutenant governor, said she wants to make sure the office is “used to advance our economy and our state as a whole” but stressed that under state law, it has specific roles, such as chairing the Long-Term Care Coordinating Council.

Young stressed the need to “bring Rhode Island back to life,” something she said is needed on several levels, from fixing the economy and respecting life from “conception until death.” She said the state needs to attract large businesses by adopting policies that make them want to come here.